Hampton

HAMPTON — Hampton is the only city in the area to propose employee pay cuts in its difficult 2010-11 budget, while Newport News is the only city offering an increase, in the form of a supplement.

That information was put forward in a budget overview presented this week to Hampton City Council by Budget Director Chris Snead.

Snead's overview showed that six communities in the Hampton Roads area — Virginia Beach, Newport News, Norfolk, Hampton, Chesapeake and James City County — propose eliminating positions in the next financial year.

Their goal is to cut 737.5 positions, including 315 positions that are currently filled.

Portsmouth, Suffolk and York County do not propose eliminating positions.

Snead told a City Council work session Wednesday that Hampton is the only city proposing a pay cut. The executive management team has agreed to a 2 percent voluntary pay cut. "This is equivalent to one week's pay," Snead said.

Councilman George Wallace said he was in favor of council members taking a 2 percent pay cut if the council goes ahead with cuts for the executive management team.

Snead said Newport News is the only city to offer a pay increase, in the form of a $500 supplement to all permanent full-time employees, to help compensate for a 15 percent health insurance increase.

In Hampton, a 4.5 percent health insurance increase will be shared between the city and employees.

Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting is recommending the elimination of 78 city positions, of which 56 are filled. Some of the employees who lose their jobs will be reassigned to other jobs.

Newport News is cutting 112 positions, according to Snead's report, 14 of which are filled.

Snead said Chesapeake is the only Hampton Roads city to propose furloughs.